(SportsNetwork.com) - The Ottawa Senators will aim for a fourth straight win
as the guest when they continue a four-game road trip with Thursday's Atlantic
Division battle against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Ottawa is 7-1-2 over its last 10 games overall, but went 0-1-1 on a recent
two-game homestand before snapping the slide with Tuesday's 2-0 victory in
Washington. The win was the third straight road victory for the Sens and
improved their record as the guest this season to 11-8-4.

Craig Anderson made 34 saves for his third shutout of the season in Tuesday's
triumph, while Kyle Turris and Jason Spezza scored for the Senators, who
earned their seventh straight win over the Capitals.

"I thought our team game was very solid throughout," Senators coach Paul
MacLean said. "I thought we played a really good 60 minutes in the game. I
thought the momentum swings we handled well or dictated a little bit of it."

Thanks in large part to its play over the last 10 games, Ottawa has pulled
within one point of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Columbus
and Detroit currently hold the eighth seed with 54 points and both teams are
in action tonight.

Anderson will get the start tonight for the Sens and he is 6-2-2 with a 1.42
goals against average in 11 career games against the Lightning.

The Lightning, who are in second place in the Atlantic Division, also halted a
two-game losing streak in their last game, posting a 5-3 decision in Sunday's
road tilt against the Carolina Hurricanes. Mark Barberio scored the first two
goals of his career to help Tampa Bay down the Hurricanes at PNC Arena.

Ondrej Palat had a goal and two assists while Teddy Purcell and Nikita
Kucherov also scored for the Lightning, who had lost four of six entering
Sunday's contest. Ben Bishop stopped a career-high 48 shots in the win.

"I'm sure they were frustrated, but that's what you're supposed to do," Bishop
said of stopping a career high in shots.

Bishop expects to get the start tonight and is 2-0 with a 1.50 GAA in two
career outings the Senators, who traded him to Tampa Bay last season for
forward Cory Conacher.

Lightning forward Martin St. Louis enters Thursday riding an eight-game point
streak, the longest current stretch in the NHL. He has eight goals and four
assists during the run and is leading the Bolts this season with 50 points (25
goals, 25 assists).

Tampa is kicking off a two-game homestand tonight and will also face Colorado
on Saturday. The Lightning boast a solid 14-6-3 record on home ice this
season.

Bishop and the Lightning recorded a 3-1 win over visiting Ottawa on Dec. 5,
giving Tampa wins in three straight home games in this series. The Bolts also
have won two in a row and three of the last four encounters overall.

01/23 10:52:07 ET

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